Free DVD Shows Asian Americans in Broadcast Journalism Careers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Janice Lee
AAJA Deputy Executive Director
JaniceL@aaja.org
(415) 346-2051 x110
SAN FRANCISCO (August 1, 2006) – “Stand by… we’re ‘live’
in 3, 2, 1...”
The title of the new award-winning DVD “More Than A Job—Broadcast
Journalism” captures it all -- the excitement, the challenge of working
in TV and radio news. The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) announced
today the public release of the DVD to encourage Asian Americans to look at
broadcast journalism as a rewarding career choice.
For many Asian American journalists, it’s not only a job, it’s a
dream fulfilled.
"Broadcast journalism allowed me to travel the world to see history being
made,” said Lloyd LaCuesta, a bureau chief for KTVU (Fox) in the San Francisco
Bay Area and an AAJA Lifetime Achievement Award winner. “ It has always
been more than just a job.”
Victoria Lim, senior consumer investigative reporter for WFLA-TV in Tampa Bay,
Florida, said, “Whether it’s protecting my viewers from the latest
scam or righting a wrong, my career in journalism has been incredibly fulfilling.”
AAJA produced the DVD to stem the tide of the declining number of Asian Americans
represented in newsrooms across the country. In 2000, 3 percent of local TV
news stations across the country were comprised of Asian Americans, according
to the Radio-Television News Directors Association. One percent of the radio
industry was staffed with Asian Americans. By 2006, the numbers virtually remain
the same, following years of declining figures. Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders constitute 5 percent of the United States population, according to
the U. S. Census Bureau.
“In order to have fair and equitable coverage, our newsrooms must reflect
the communities we cover,” said AAJA National President Esther Wu, who
is a columnist/reporter for The Dallas Morning News. “Census figures show
that Asians are among the fastest growing race in the United States. Yet, unless
you live on the West Coast, you might be hard pressed to find any Asian faces
on the nightly news. For these reasons, it is imperative that we have more Asian
representation in the broadcast industry.”
Television news pioneers such as Ken Kashiwahara, James Hattori, Tritia Toyota
and Connie Chung opened many doors for talented Asian Americans. AAJA is dedicated
to helping Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders enter and thrive in the competitive
news business.
From working behind the scenes as producers, assignment editors and photographers
to working in front of the camera and microphones as reporters and anchors,
broadcast journalists work on new creative stories every day in a fast-paced,
high-adrenaline industry. They can also meet presidents, governors, athletes,
entertainers and everyday people with interesting personal stories to tell.
"I love reporting because you get to tell people about what's going on
in their world, no two days are ever the same, and you get to meet interesting
people and see different places every day,” said Darren Lyn, national
correspondent for ESPN.
Traci Tong, a producer with WGBH/National Public Radio in Boston and of the
BBC World Service, said, “I’ve traveled the world working with reporters
in Africa, Asia, the United Kingdom and the South Pacific. With the BBC World
Service, you can talk with heads of state from Kenya, Haiti, and France, and
then one day, interview surfers whipping through the Amazon.”
Broadcast journalism offers an opportunity to write a great story while influencing
the community and the world. AAJA believes Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
are a vital part of television and radio news, and has been focusing on an initiative
to increase the presence of AAPI men in the industry.
“Broadcast journalism needs to reflect the community it serves,”
said George Kiriyama, a reporter with KNTV in the San Francisco Bay Area. “Asian
Americans in general and Asian American men specifically bring to the newsroom
table their experiences, their dreams, and their opinions. It's important to
have Asian American men represented in TV News...because if we don't represent
us...who will?”
AAJA is making the DVD available to schools, community groups, career counseling
centers and libraries. The DVD features six Asian American journalists from
across the United States. The journalists on the video are: Jamie Nguyen, producer,
KTRK TV Houston, Texas; Robert Handa, reporter, KTVU Oakland, California; Jam
Sardar, reporter, WOOD TV, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Mimi Jung, reporter and anchor,
KING 5 TV, Seattle, Washington; and Wilma Consul and Scott Tong, National Public
Radio, Washington D.C. But what makes this DVD unique are the interviews with
proud parents talking about their children’s careers as journalists.
“ Journalism is not a career that Asian American parents suggest to their
children. But broadcast journalism is a field that can impact a community, a
city, or even the nation,“ said Stanton Tang, Vice President of Broadcast
of AAJA and executive producer of WZZM in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “More
Than A Job—Broadcast Journalism tells a compelling story from those who
have pursued television and radio as a career and found success.”
Randall Yip of KGO-TV in San Francisco served as executive producer of the project
and Curtiss Kim of KFTY-TV in Santa Rosa, Calif., produced and hosted it. The
Telly Awards recently awarded the video its bronze statuette.
Thanks to a grant from the Fox Entertainment Group, Diversity Development
and assistance from TPS Production in Washington D.C., the DVD is available
for free. See the information sheet.
The DVD is free within the U.S. (although donations in any amount are always welcome). To place your order or pick up copies:*
AAJA National Office
Attn: More Than A Job DVD
1182 Market St., Suite 320
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone (415) 346-2051
national@aaja.org
Additional fees may apply for international orders.
About AAJA
The Asian American Journalists Association is a non-profit professional and
educational organization with approximately 2,000 members today. Founded in
1981, AAJA has been at the forefront of change in the journalism industry. AAJA's
mission is to encourage Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) to enter
the ranks of journalism, to work for fair and accurate coverage of AAPIs, and
to increase the number of AAPI journalists and news managers in the industry.
AAJA is an alliance partner in UNITY Journalists of Color, along with the Native
American Journalists Association, National Association of Hispanic Journalists,
and National Association of Black Journalists. For more information, visit www.aaja.org.
Press release written by Gene Kang. * Denotes changes made Dec. 13, 2006.
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